Blacken Open Air, Australia’s most unique heavy music festival, and Alice Springs heavy music record label, The Black Wreath, are in danger of shutting down, with the team informing supporters they’re “now at a crossroads.”
Last September, Blacken Open Air returned for its ninth edition in Arrernte Country with a line-up of Australian and international heavy music talent. Like previous years, it was also home to local Arrernte cultural performances, art installations, sideshows, workshops, skating, gourmet food, and more.
The 2025 event was home to a spectacular line-up, starring Earthless, Uada, Frenzal Rhomb, Divide And Dissolve, Blood Duster, Mulga Bore Hard Rock, Southeast Desert Metal, and many others.
In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday (25 March), The Black Wreath’s team revealed that, a month after the high of last year’s event, they were told by their real estate agent that the headquarters of the record label would be sold. To add to the pain, The Black Wreath was subjected to a 30-day eviction notice.
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After the landlords offered a deal to secure the Alice Springs space for another six months, with the option to purchase, the label called a community meeting and received an “unreal” turnout. The Black Wreath then held a fundraising event, which raised enough money to sustain it for another six months.
However, after meetings with lawyers, brokers, evaluators and funding bodies, the label’s position remains uncertain. Government grants don’t currently “fit the timeline, or are only available for outcome-based projects.” So, the team has applied for a multi-year grant to secure the future of Blacken Open Air, while the Black Wreath property has been publicly listed for sale.
“We are now at a crossroads. Our goal is to save The Black Wreath HQ and deliver Blacken Open Air alongside year-round events long into the future,” the team wrote. “We need to keep it accessible for the future of music in Central Australia.”
The statement continued, “We are planning to run both a rewards-based crowdfunding campaign and a DGR status tax-deductible fundraiser simultaneously. We will be offering unique merchandise, music, memberships and tickets to future Blacken Open Air festivals (in Central Australia and beyond!)
“Time is not on our side. The property has now been publicly listed for sale. If the last fifteen years has taught us anything, it's that we are all in this together. We will go live next week.
“We hope to be celebrating this victory with you all at our tenth edition of Blacken Open Air, Mayday weekend, 2027!”
You can read the full statement below.
Before outlining the tribulations facing the record label and music festival, The Black Wreath’s team revealed that, last year, Blacken Open Air “achieved everything it had ever aspired to do.”
“What began as whispered pipe dreams back in 2012 (‘one day we’ll get international bands here ... there’ll be over 1000 people ... fans will come from around the world’) became hard-fought goals smashed,” the team explained.
They added, “People flew in from ten different countries, from Brazil to the UK, while others drove 5000kms to be there. The artists, the crew and the community co-created something truly magical: a world-class production, on sacred country; a heavy metal playground of colour (black) and creativity. The most brutal of performances from the sickest bands in the country.
“It felt like the vision had been finally and ultimately realised. Then, without a day’s rest, the kit was packed into trucks and driven 500kms for a once-in-a-lifetime moment: Earthless performing their masterpiece ‘Uluru Rock’ at Uluru itself. The idea was too crazy not to attempt, but the actual logistics were insane.
“Over a year’s work went into the planning to piece it all together. There were so many challenges and unexpected hurdles along the way. It felt like an absolute miracle when we pulled it off. If this was to be the final Blacken ... we fucking nailed it!”
Hopefully, 2025 won’t be the end for Blacken Open Air or The Black Wreath.
